Thursday, January 7, 2016

Hoboken blasted with seasonal climate change and the turn of the calendar is nothing in comparison to Hoboken politicos spiking traffic here who are back in the fray for 2016.

As New Year lingers in the backdrop of corruption accusations pointing at Mayor Dawn Zimmer and many lie in wait to see the final verdict on Observer Highway, Rebuild by Design, the all season hoped weather solution will see more resident scrutiny.

The bizzare corruption charges hysterically targeting the mayor and lauded by some (this is Hoboken after all) are being openly mocked and derided as ignorant by others. Even the Feds and its usual bureaucratic expectations may be surprised at the vehement opposition mounted to Concept Plan A with its proposed design element of a wall on upper Garden Street.

One might have anticipated something more highbrow from the monied interests uptown but the usual fabricated hysteria seen from elements of the fourth ward and Old Guard denizens apparently spread like a virus uptown and turned a group of uptown one-percenters into zombie Carmelitos or ghouls seen in the days gone by Russo faction.

While it's not clear how much ignorance was driving upper Garden Street's Natalie Morales, some small part is simply NIMBY - (not in my back yard).

Don't all the Lamestream Media talking heads love, believe and worship at the altar of Big Government? Well, the Feds re: Big Brother are in Hoboken dangling $230 million of funding which certainly comes with strings. Those strings have everything to do with a bureacracy and five concept plans being presented on behalf of Jersey City, Hoboken and Weehawken.

NJ.com weighed in on the BoE swearing in ceremony last night. The story quotes re-elected BoE trustee Tom Kluepfel who previously called the late night surge of Vote-by-Mails overturning his two running mates headed to a sweep "cynical."

BoE Trustee Peter Biancamano who was soundly beaten by second ward councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher last November for the uptown ward seat made political hay on the BoE trustee vote for its leadership saying:

After a unanimous vote electing Tom Kleupfel, the new President of the BoE, trustee arrival John Madigan promptely nominated Peter Biancamano who lost on a 6-3 vote to Jennifer Evans for the VP slot. (Madigan was joined by Peter Biancamano and Britney Montgomery.)

So, all and all what you have is the political reality and everyone holding to form. What this means to the Hoboken School district? Education will be the focus and there's no jobs bank comeback in the making. Politics won't be going anywhere.

John Madigan reportedly nicknamed SYKE (short for psycho?) will hold a seat among nine BoE trustees. Do we need to rehash the clash on the street with a former BoE trustee and Hoboken mom with her baby daughter on a local street back in the day or is new material on its way?

Outside of some major infrastructure issues, finalizing a plan for Washington St. and the aging infrastructure below the Mile Square City, it's unclear what kind of City Council will emerge. It all remains to be seen in action, not theoretical numbers.

Bonding requires six votes of the nine member City Council meaning two-thirds of the council must agree on any details finalizing a bonding proposal. Washington St. is the big visible issue everyone wants to see addressed yesterday.

For you boys and girls out there, five votes constitutes a majority, six votes a super majority. Can you tell us what four votes constitutes?

For the sake of "diversity" shouldn't someone - anyone - get a shot on a major board after holding it for two decades? How about a farm animal? You know, for the sake of "diversity." This Horse is seriously considering submitting an application because you know the affable fraternity of a horse and a Wolff and.... wait for it... REFORM! Do we still believe in walking the walk or are we going with talking the talk?

Pure unconfirmed rumor but a will-o-wisp floating out there says Parking Director John Morgan may move over to Public Safety after the departure of the well respected and highly qualified Jon Tooke. If true, we'd need to see his public safety credentials first. Morgan saw a rough time of it before the newly constituted city council Monday night. There was some question about who is setting policy and who is acting for parking and transportation issues under that mandate.

Who's brilliant idea or political maneuver was it to put a Hoboken realtor on the Zoning Board of Adjustment? This horse says diversity of ideas is welcome but putting the fox in the henhouse, not so much. Smarten-Up!

Councilman Ruben Ramos didn't waste time after returning to the Hoboken City Council proposing a traffic alteration on lower Jackson Street. People are apoplectic about the traffic problems getting in and out on the southern end especially during rush hours. Da Horsey is very interested in learning more about Councilman Ramos' proposal.

Some people misconstrue Da Horsey's criticism of the City Council's unanimous first official action of the year to flush down the drain $5,000 to the pro Old Guard rag Hudson Reporter. While the new second ward councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher put it on the table, the criticism holds for all the council members voting to approve the dubious belief it will generate more interest on City notices.

There's little doubt Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher will grow into a superb addition to the legislative body. She is the first thought MBA educated member on the council; so let's hope she finds a spot on the Finance subcommitte where some of her talents will be utilized.

Beth Mason celebrating 2016 at her Weehawken dive bar where she's partnered with a smelly local fish who isn't running her second ward council seat anymore. Her litigous ways will make news in 2016 though.

On the years long frivolous litigation front, your editor Da Horsey, SmartyJones will take on a fifth legal and fourth in a series of criminal allegations set for trial February 5th in Jersey City Municipal Court. What all the filers have in common against this horse is their utter eagerness to lie under oath.

Natalie Morales photo courtesy the Hudson County ViewGrist for the Mill is MSV's rumor column. Got a tasty carrot for Da Horsey? Send it to smartyjones@me.com. All email is kept confidential until mutual agreement and is protected by Da Horsey's proven Reporter Privilege upheld under the NJ Shield Law in Hudson Superior Court.